Storage

Storage (SSD & HDD)

Storage is the place where your PC keeps all your files: games, software, photos, videos, music, documents… For a fast and responsive gaming PC, choosing the right drive is essential. Do you want your system to boot quickly? Do you want your games to load in a few seconds? This is where the SSD comes into play.

SSD: Speed Above All

The SSD (Solid State Drive) has become the standard for a modern and fast setup. Much faster than a traditional hard drive, it allows you to boot Windows in seconds, launch a game without waiting, and enjoy top performance in all daily tasks.

The NVMe SSDs, even faster, use the PCIe port to deliver blazing read/write speeds. They are perfect for demanding gamers or content creators. A 500 GB to 1 TB SSD is often sufficient for the operating system and main games.

HDD: Capacity at an Affordable Price

The HDD (hard drive) remains a practical and economical solution for mass storage. It’s great for storing your videos, backups, music, photos, or projects that are less sensitive to access speed. A 2 TB or 4 TB hard drive is inexpensive and ideally complements an SSD.

The trick is to use an SSD for performance (system and apps) and an HDD for capacity. This is the most common combination among gamers and video editors to optimize costs without sacrificing usability.

SSD and HDD Comparator on DropReference

On DropReference, we offer an ultra-convenient SSD & HDD price comparator. You’ll find the most popular models (Samsung, Crucial, Western Digital, Seagate…) at the best prices, updated in real time. Our free configurator also automatically checks compatibility with your motherboard or case. No more connection errors or unrecognized drives.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Storage

• What is the difference between a SATA SSD and an NVMe SSD?
  NVMe is significantly faster as it uses the PCIe port instead of SATA. It is better suited for demanding users.
• How much storage is needed for a gaming PC?
  Minimum 500 GB of SSD, ideally 1 TB. And a 2 TB HDD as a supplement if you have many games or large files.
• Can you install Windows on an HDD?
  Yes, but it's slow. An SSD is strongly recommended for the operating system.
• Do you need to format a drive before using it?
  Not always. New drives are sometimes ready to use, but it's better to format them to configure them properly.

With DropReference, you can compare all affordable SSDs and high-capacity HDDs compatible with your current setup in just a few clicks. You save time, save money, and avoid compatibility errors. Simple, fast, effective - that’s our promise.